Cocaine addiction: hypothesis derived from imaging studies with PET

Journal of Addictive Diseases
N D VolkowG J Wang

Abstract

Analysis of the behavior of cocaine in the human brain with Positron Emission Tomography reveals that it is not only its affinity for the dopamine transporter that gives it its unique properties but also its fast pharmacokinetics. Its very fast uptake and clearance from the brain contrast with that of methylphenidate, another drug that inhibits the DA transporter. Methylephenidate clears from the brain at a much slower rate and is less addictive than cocaine. We postulate that periodic and frequent stimulation of the dopaminergic system secondary to chronic use of cocaine favors activation of a circuit that involves the orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, thalamus and striatum. This circuit is abnormal in cocaine abusers and we postulate that is activation by cocaine perpetuates the compulsive administration of the drug and is perceived by the cocaine abuser as a intense desire resulting in the loss of control over the drive to take more cocaine.

Citations

Apr 17, 2014·Der Nervenarzt·A Heinz, E Friedel
Jan 4, 2003·Substance Abuse : Official Publication of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse·Gopakumar P. Panikkar
Mar 16, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Nora D VolkowFrank Telang
Oct 4, 2011·Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology·Nora D VolkowDardo Tomasi
Nov 4, 2011·BMC Medicine·Daryl Shorter, Thomas R Kosten
Feb 17, 2006·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·John J ColemanRobert L DuPont
Aug 28, 2003·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Cecile A Marczinski, Mark T Fillmore
Sep 22, 2005·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Mark T FillmoreBen D Abroms
Dec 22, 2005·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Mark T FillmoreLon Hays
Nov 26, 2011·Reviews in the Neurosciences·Muhammad A ParvazRita Z Goldstein
Oct 5, 2006·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Rosa Maria MorescoFerruccio Fazio
Nov 5, 1997·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·N D VolkowK Piscani
Nov 24, 2012·Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Dardo Tomasi, Nora D Volkow
Jul 10, 2007·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Nicole M AvenaBartley G Hoebel
Jan 21, 2009·Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine·Bridgit V NolanSteven R Feldman
Nov 16, 2004·Psychiatry Research·Marc L CopersinoRobert Cancro
Feb 10, 2000·Journal of Psychopharmacology·N D VolkowG J Wang
Sep 22, 2005·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Mark T Fillmore, Craig R Rush
Jan 25, 2005·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Mark T FillmoreCatherine A Martin
Mar 10, 2004·Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews·Mark T Fillmore
Nov 25, 2003·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Richard W RieckRobert M Kessler
May 5, 2005·The European Journal of Neuroscience·A KüblerH Garavan
Mar 17, 2010·Psychopharmacology·Marc S BerridgeMark V Boswell
Feb 15, 2007·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Minyoung E SimPerry F Renshaw
Jun 24, 1999·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·C DavisC Kirsh
Mar 12, 1998·Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie·N el-Guebaly, D Hodgins
Dec 19, 2002·Neuroreport·Rita Z GoldsteinRuben C Gur
Mar 22, 2002·The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : a Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics·Peter J Cohen
Nov 27, 2014·Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs·Daryl ShorterThomas R Kosten
Jan 8, 2021·Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology·Amy Hauck NewmanZheng-Xiong Xi
Jan 9, 2001·Journal of Substance Abuse·G GerraF Brambilla
Feb 19, 1999·Baillière's Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology·D J Birnbach, D J Stein
Apr 5, 2015·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Gonzalo ArrondoMaria A Pastor

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.